What Is Interventional Pain Management?

October 5, 2018

Living with chronic pain can be debilitating to a person’s quality of life. While there are numerous pain management techniques out there, finding the right one for you can be difficult. In fact, most people don’t have just one solution for pain management.

It often takes a combination of treatments to tamp down and control chronic pain. Finding the right techniques and incorporating them into your routine to reduce chronic pain can take a while – but once you discover what works for you, you can go back to enjoying life.

Interventional Pain Management vs. Traditional Pain Management

One treatment method that individuals with chronic pain often employ is interventional pain management. This refers to methods like injections, pain pumps, and other treatments to help control chronic pain.

Traditional pain management techniques, such as oral painkillers, can help with reducing pain, but they end up dissolving and going into every corner of the body. This lessens the effectiveness of the medication while also sending the medication to unnecessary places in the body.

Interventional medication, in contrast, focuses on the source of the pain and addresses it specifically.

How Does Interventional Pain Management Help?

Interventional pain management works to control many types of chronic pain caused by injuries, diseases, and health conditions. Some of the types of chronic pain that interventional pain management can help with are:

Chronic headaches

Muscle pains

Lower back pain

Neck pain

Interventional Pain Management Procedures

Some of the most popular interventional pain management techniques include the following:

Radiofrequency Rhizotomy

Radiofrequency rhizotomy is a pain management technique that involves using an electrode needle to turn off nerves’ ability to tell the brain about the pain.

An X-ray is used to guide the electrode needle to the exact spot where the pain is coming from. By turning off the nerves’ ability to send pain messages to the brain, the patient temporarily stops feeling the pain.

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation is a pain management technique that involves placing electrodes on or under the skin (depending on the type of electrical stimulation), near the source of the pain.

A stimulator sends electoral pulses to the affected area to reduce the sensation of pain. It is very effective in reducing pain caused by nerves. Individuals who have electrical implants often report a tingling sensation instead of pain.

Pain Pump Implants

Another interventional pain management technique is a pain pump implant. Pain pump implants are inserted under the skin near the area where the patient feels pain. The pump sends out the specified amount of medication on a regular basis. This allows for consistent pain relief to the area.

This interventional pain management technique is often reserved for severe chronic pain cases that haven’t been effectively treated by other treatment methods.

Nerve Blocks

Nerve blocks delivered through injections can help reduce chronic pain temporarily. Unlike prescription oral pain medications that end up spread throughout the body, nerve blocks are delivered near your nerves to deliver the medication close to the source of pain. Some popular nerve blocks include steroids and opioids.

Which Interventional Pain Management Method Is Right for Me?

Chronic pain can be difficult to live with and even harder to manage. Fortunately, there are a lot of treatment options available for you to try.

If you haven’t found the right treatment combination to help reduce your chronic pain, don’t give up! Work with your pain management doctor to try different pain management techniques.

If traditional pain management techniques haven’t worked for you, talk to your doctor about interventional pain management and see if it’s right for you.

Contact a Back Pain and Sports Rehab Specialist in Delaware

If you are looking for a dependable and experienced medical team to help with your pain management, the experts at Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Centers would love to help. You will get an individualized medical rehabilitation program that is personalized to your needs, so you can get better quickly and return to the life you love.

It’s easy to get started: Fill out our online appointment request form today, or call your nearest Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Centers location to schedule a consultation with one of our caring, skilled doctors and physiatrists. We have seven convenient locations across Delaware to serve our patients, and we look forward to helping you get well and enjoy your active lifestyle again.